George Mason University Lands $4.85M Grant
TL/DR –
George Mason University has received an anonymous $4.85 million gift to support research into bruise and injury detection in situations of interpersonal violence. The funds will be used to develop new imaging technology that utilizes a light source five times more powerful than white light for identifying bruises across all skin tones, providing a tool for forensic nurses, social workers, and law enforcement. The detection system employs artificial intelligence, imaging and light technologies, forensic reports, and clinical expertise, and it is hoped that improved documentation of physical trauma will lead to better healthcare and legal outcomes for all survivors of violence.
George Mason University Receives Significant Donation for Bruise Detection Research
George Mason University has announced a generous anonymous donation of $4.85 million. This significant funding will support pioneering research on bruise and injury identification in victims of interpersonal violence. The research focuses on the employment of novel imaging technology tools, which utilize light sources five times more effective than white light in identifying and visualizing bruising across all skin tones. The technology is intended to aid social service providers, forensic nurses, and law enforcement in their duties.
The donation marks the most substantial contribution towards research in the history of the College of Public Health. The funds provide transformative resources for Mason’s interdisciplinary research and collaborative approach, furthering ground-breaking research with potential for increased use and impact.
The funding will support Mason’s renowned interdisciplinary research team, led by Katherine Scafide, David Lattanzi, and Janusz Wojtusiak. They are leading the bruise detection project featured on NBC Nightly News. The project uses Alternate Light Sources and artificial intelligence alongside imaging and light technologies, forensic reports, and clinical expertise for enhanced bruise detection. The technology aims to address deficits in injury identification, particularly among people with darker skin tones.
Accurate documentation of physical trauma could improve disparities in clinical care, leading to enhanced healthcare and better legal recourse for all violence survivors. This research is crucial, given that one in three women worldwide and over 10 million individuals in the U.S. grapple with intimate partner violence annually. Accurate documentation of injuries aids survivors in participating in the criminal justice process, and addressing violence can prevent further public health issues.
The project has been met with praise from those working to end domestic violence. Ruth Glenn, President of Survivor Justice Action, commends the research for its potential to revolutionize bruise identification in diverse populations, signaling a significant step towards justice for those previously marginalized. The research’s findings have also been recognized for revolutionizing medical forensic examinations by enabling medical professionals to visualize and identify previously ‘invisible’ injuries, potentially improving patient care and aiding offender accountability.
The project is led by Mason’s College of Public Health in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Computing. More information can be found at https://bruise.gmu.edu/.
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